Thursday, 4 July 2013

Conspiracy Versus Conspiracy Theory

Conspiracy
Versus Conspiracy Theory

It is
important to be able to distinguish between a genuine conspiracy and a conspiracy
theory. We live in an age that seems at times to be consumed by belief in both
conspiracies and conspiracy theories. This post is designed to help us to both define
our enemies beliefs as well as to defend ourselves from such charges.

A conspiracy
is a plan made in secret, with others with the aim of carrying out some kind of
action. A plan and action carried out by an individual is by definition not a
conspiracy because it doesn’t involve others. A conspiracy can be for good or
for ill, for example conspiring to organise a surprise party is good,
conspiring to rig a jury is not good.

A conspiracy
theory is the theory that a conspiracy exists. The defining divide between a
conspiracy and a conspiracy theory is the role of evidence. The further along a
conspiracy is the more evidence will be available that the conspiracy exists.
In the case of a conspiracy theory the lack of evidence is taken as proof of
the effectiveness of the “conspiracy”. Furthermore any evidence there is, is
taken as proof no matter how distant the different strands may be from each
other. In most cases the theory is the starting point and evidence is then
sorted to fit the theory.

In further posts I will be looking at other political theories, some of which rely on conspiracy theories to form the platform upon which they exist. Namely Nazism, Communism and Feminism.